Kido Koin (Takayoshi)
Portrait of Kido Koin (1878)
Portrait of Kido Koin (1878)


Slogan:

The time has come for change and improvement.

We must break our old habits and prevail upon new ideas.



General Information:

  • born on 26 June, 1833 in Choshu Domain

  • Kido Koin was very involved politically in bringing about the Meiji Restoration.

  • He helped create many policies within the Meiji Government, and educated young Emperor Meiji.

  • Traveled to the west and learned about European government and technology.

  • became one of the most effective officials in the government after the Meiji Restoration in 1868

  • considered as one of the 3 giants of the Restoration with Okubo Toshimichi and Saigo Takamori

  • Died from an Illness during Satsuma Rebellion.


Early Life:

  • adopted at age 7 into a middle ranking samurai family

  • experienced high quality education since young in various fields including reading and writing, Kenjutsu (Japanese fencing,) military tactics, and shipbuilding and Dutch learning.

  • active in the politics of his han (fief) from an early point of his life

  • became one of Choshu's leading officials in 1862 as his han began to rise to power


Beliefs:

  • held liberal political views

  • wanted to establish an imperial state with constitution and civil rights

  • believed in the separation of power in the government and the system of checks and balances


Significance:

  • since 1868, served positions of the following: Councilor of State, Minister of Education, Chairman of the Governor's Conference, and Advisor to the Cabinet


  • headed the coup d'état that toppled the shogun and gave the power back to the emperor

  • worked to transfer the imperial capital from Kyoto to Edo (modern Tokyo)

  • convinced the heads of the han to return their domains to the emperor

  • helped redivide Japan into districts to be run under government-appointed officials

  • visited Europe in 1871 and returned to Japan to prevent an invasion of Korea






Works Cited:


Borthwick, Mark. Pacific Century: The Emergence of Modern Pacific Asia. Boulder, CO: Westview, 2007. Print.

"Kido Takayoshi (Japanese Statesman)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 06 May 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317457/Kido-Takayoshi>.

"Kido Takayoshi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Mar. 2012. Web. 06 May 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kido_Takayoshi>

"Profile of the Two Men." Web. 06 May 2012. <http://www13.ocn.ne.jp/~dawn/e_profilemen.html>.

Vitali, Leopoldo. Portrait of Takayoshi Kido. Digital image. Ochanomizu University Digital Archives. Web. 06 May 2012. <http://archives.cf.ocha.ac.jp/en/exhibition/da/da0004.html>.